BAPTISM.

What Does It Mean To Be Baptized?

Baptism is your public announcement about your faith in Jesus. It's communicating to the world your heart-felt commitment to following Him. It's the next step after salvation.

More About BaptismBaptism is an outward expression of an inward change. Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34). The water represents how faith in Jesus cleanses believers of their sin. Also, when you go down into the water and then come up, you are publically expressing your belief in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection as well as your own spiritual rebirth.

Why Should I Be Baptized?​Baptism follows the example that Jesus set for us when he was baptized Himself. Jesus also instructed his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Being baptized shows that we turn away from a life of sin and turn toward Jesus, who has changed us from the inside out.

Why Do I Go Under Water?Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion or going underwater. The original word for baptism means to "dip" or "immerse". Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it (Matt. 3:16, Mark 1:10). Submersion in the water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and therefore, being submersed underwater represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water clean and having a fresh start in life.

What About Children?We love to see children make a decision for Christ and confess their faith through baptism! Please keep in mind, baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him. So to receive baptism a child must be able to understand that they have sinned, but that Jesus died in order that their sin would be forgiven.

Do I Need To Be Baptized Again?​If you have never been baptized since accepting Jesus as your Savior, then now is the time to be baptized. Or if you received an infant "baptism" when you were a baby, but have never been baptized as a fully aware believer, then now is also the time to be baptized. There is no need to be re-baptized if you have previously confessed Jesus as Savior and been baptized in water.

Is Baptism your next step? Sign up here to speak with one of our leaders.